Costs for individual health plans soar

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

At a time when more people are forced to buy their own health insurance because of job losses, costs for many individual policies are soaring.

Advocates say the 17 million Americans who buy their own coverage can't negotiate lower rates the way employers or other large group plans can.

-----

• Anthem Blue Cross in California has notified about 80% of its 800,000 individual policyholders of double-digit increases, many above 30%. Spokesman Ben Singer says rising medical costs are prompting the increases.

• Blue Cross of Michigan is seeking state approval for a 56% increase in individual premiums. Spokesman Andy Hetzel says the company needs to offset losses stemming from state rules making it the sole insurer required to take all applicants.

• Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon will raise rates for approximately 10,000 Washington state customers by 27.1% on March 1.





Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-02-19-health-c...

---

Way past time for this country to go single-payer!

[leftyladyfrommo]

1. Whew! I'm locked in for 12 months.

Course then it will probably double.

I pay 384 for 1 person with 1500 deductible. That means I have to pretty much pay for most stuff myself so unless something big goes wrong I am just paying for security, not actual health care.

[DesertFlower]

6. you've got a good deal.

my sister pays $325 a month and has a $10,000 deductible.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Oh my gosh. That is awful.

Are there special circumstances? I don't have any health problems. $10,000? Wow! I think I would consider just doing without -of course then you are completely screwed if something big happens.

[Vinca]

2. Maybe this is a good thing. Get enough people to have to give up their insurance

at one time and we might get to national healthcare faster.

[spiderpig]

3. My copays with Kaiser doubled.

Dr visits and prescriptions. Knew they'd go up, but didn't expect this.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Buying health insurance as an unemployed individual is pretty much impossible and always..

unaffordable.

[pasto76]

5. Rising medical costs?!?

Ive fuckin had it with this alleged, "supply and demand" bullshit. gas prices go up because demand is DOWN? Did we just lose 50% of our healthcare providers? Is that why supply side is down?

Its all bullshit.

[rabs]

7. A personal argument for universal heath care

Chile has universal health care for its citizens. Wife is Chilean national. We pay the equivalent of $40 monthly for her health care insurance.

One year ago she went to Chile where she had:

Ultrasound abdomen exam (she had been having pains) which led to:

A gall bladder operation for removal of two large stones. That included gastroenterologist consultation and testing, anesthesiologist, nurses, 26-hour stay in hospital.

Complete cardiology exam including eco-cardiogram and stress test on treadmill.

Complete blood screen test (twice) to check sugar levels, liver damage screen, cholesterol levels.

Gynecologist for pap smear testing, including mammogram.

Dental exam, included teeth cleaning.

Otolaryngologist to check hearing.

Nine months supply of prescription drugs, including generic Lipitor, Norvacs, Atenolol (for heart rhythm and blood pressure), diuretic pills and aspirins.

The total out of pocket cost was slightly over $1,800, with the gall bladder operation costing $1,200. (Don't how much a gall bladder operation cost in U.S., but suspect at least ten times more.)

This was nine months ago. She is traveling to Chile again in two weeks for the yearly round of examinations. Plus, she gets to see her new granddaughter and her elderly mother.

Btw, for those unfamilar with Chile, it has a moderate Socialist government under President Michelle Bachelet.

Below list of priorities under the Chilean universal health care plan.

http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/data/179/12/1289/DC1/1

[knixphan]

8. Strong argument!!

Time to Nationalize, folks. HR676 all the way!

[Kablooie]

10. Great business plan. You lose customers so you raise prices to keep your mighty profits.

Why is it that any other industry that tries this would go out of business?

[No Elephants]

11. My son's friend recently died because he was uninsured and therefore

did not go to the doctor until my son and another guy physically picked him up, threw him in a car and hauled him to the emergency room. By then, his encephalitis had progressed too far to halt. He died about a month later, on December 30. He was in his 30's.

[alfredo]

12. Veterans, sign up at VA.

[Delphinus]

13. HR 676

Broken record here - HR 676 Single Payer Universal Health Care (Expanded Medicare for All) is the ONLY way to go.